Nate Allen Injury: Updates on Raiders Safety's Knee and Return

The Oakland Raiders were thin in their secondary coming into Sunday’s season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the problem was magnified by a knee injury to safety Nate Allen. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, an MRI on Monday showed Allen tore his MCL. He was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 15. 

Continue for updates.

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Allen Avoids Torn ACL; Placed on IR

Tuesday, Sept. 15

Allen was placed on IR with the designation to return, the team announced. 

On Sept. 14, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Raiders feared Allen had torn his ACL.

Allen's absence is concerning for a squad that finished a middling 16th in the league against the pass in 2014. One of reasons the Raiders brought Allen in during the offseason was to shore up that pass coverage.

The second-round pick in the 2010 draft played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and turned in his best campaign with a team-high four interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 2014. Only seven players in the entire NFL finished with more interceptions last year than Allen.

Missing that production wasn’t the only problem for Oakland following Allen’s departure, as Associated Press freelance reporter and Silver and Black Illustrated writer Michael Wagaman pointed out:

Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted Larry Asante served as Allen’s replacement in “an already-suspect Oakland secondary.”

Asante played six games for the Raiders last year but didn’t tally a single interception or pass defended. He at least has some experience, but it will be difficult for Oakland to replace a veteran safety who is fresh off the best season of his career.